Grinding machine



Sept. 8, 1931. c. w. HOPKINS 1,822,348

' GRINDING MACHINE Filed April 19. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l 13' if i Z az gwuentoo p 8, 1931. c. w. HOPKINS 7 1,822,348

GRINDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jwumtw 62m A/ fla 5 MAMA...

Sept. 8, 1931.

c. w. HOPKINS GRINDING MACHINE Filed April 19. 1930 Patented Sept. 8 1931 UNITED STATES CECIL W. HOPKINS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO,

PATENT OFFICE ASSIGNOR TO CINCINNATI GRINDERS IN- CORPORATED, F CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO GRINDING MACHINE 'Application filed April 19,

being known as the through-feed method in which work pieces are introduced into the grinding throat at one side thereof and are automatically fed therethrough and discharged at the opposite side of the throat. In the second method, known as iii-feed grinding, the width of the throat is varied by either automatic or manual means to permit the introduction and removal of a work piece therefrom; the throat being widened for the introduction of a Work piece and then narrowed to reduce the work piece to the desired size whereupon the throat is again widened and the work piece ejected from the throat through the same side thereof as it was introduced. Heretofore a different type or kind of work rest support or mechanism was employed for each of the above mentioned methods.

It is one of the principal objects of this invention to provide a work rest or support mechanism that may be utilized with a standard centerless grinder for performing a grinding operation by either of these methods of grinding.

Another object of the invention is the pro- 7 vision, as above noted, of a support mechanism capable of being adjusted to suit the particular conditions necessary for performing both in-feed and through-feed grinding operations on successive work pieces without the necessity of changing the entire mecha-v nism or having a different centerless grinder for each type of grinding.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily understood by reference to the following specification considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodimP-nt of the invention and it is to be understood that any modifications may be made in the specific structural details there illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or erceeding the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

1930. Serial No. 445,761.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the improvements of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the device shown in Figure 1, parts being in section as seen on line 2-2 thereon.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the parts in position to perform a through-feed grinding operation.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4:4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 1 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 showing the work support mechanism set up for performing anin-feed grinding operation on the work piece, and

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Throughout the several views of the drawings similar reference characters are employed to denote the same or similar parts.

A device utilizing the invention may comprise a bed 10 having mounted thereon near one end thereof the grinding wheel head 11 supporting a grinding wheel 12 for rotation in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow adjacentthereto at ahigh or-grinding rate of speed. Also supported by the bed for movement relative thereto is the regulating unit 13 having slide 14 for movement relative to and with lower slide 15. This slide 15 is mounted upon suitable ways formed integral with the bed 10. Clamps 16 and 17 may be provided for respectively securing the regulating wheel unit 13' and slide 14 to the lower slide 15 for movement therewith and for securing the said lower slide 15 to the bed 10. To effect movement of the slides use is made of an adjusting or feed screw 18 rotatably but non-translatably journaled in a bracket 19 fastened on the bed 10. Hand-Wheel 20 is secured to the end of the screw 18 exterior of the bracket 19 for actuating same.

The threaded end of the screw 18 is re ceived in a nut 21 rotatably carried by the unit 13 which nut has secured thereto a manually actuable lever 22. Supported by the unit 13 for rotation in a clockwise direction at a relatively slow rate of speed is a regulating wheel 23. The peripheries of the wheels 13 and 23 are spaced from one another to provide a grinding throat in which the work piece to be operated upon is positioned. For supporting the said work piece there is provided a work rest blade 24 ad justably carried by the work supporting unit indicated generally by the numeral 25.

In connection with the description thus far it should be noted that the hand wheel 20 is utilized primarily for adjusting the regulating wheel 23 and grinding wheel 12 relative to one another to determine the size of the grinding throat therebetwecn and the exact size to which the work piece is to be re duced. The handle or lever 22 is employed for performing what is known. as iii-feed grinding it being actuated through substantially 90 degrees from the position shown in Figure 2 to effect a movemen of the regulating wheel toward the grinding wheel. This handle is then returned to again retract the wheel and open the grinding throat. YVhen performing a through-feed grinding operation the wheels are adjusted relative to one another by the hand or pilot wheel 20. as above noted, and then locked in this position by clamps 16 and 17 and the work pieces feed in a continuous stream through the said throat to reduce successive work pieces to the same desired size. The only adjustment of the wheels necessary in this instance being that to take up for unavoidable wheel wear and the trueing of the active face thereof. In the past a separate and distinct work support mechanism was employed for each type of grinding while by this invention it is proposed to provide a work support mechanism that may be adjusted for use with either of these methods.

The work supporting unit or. mechanism 25 comprises blocks 26 and 260 secured to one another to form a unit which unit is in turn secured by cap screws or the like 27 to the lower slide 15 for movement therewith. The block 26 has formed longitudinally thereof a recess 26a in which a carrier 26?) is mounted. This carrier 26?) is U-shaped and receives between its arms the work rest blade 24. Clamp screws 260 extend through one of the armsof the carrier and clamp the blade between themselves and the other arm of the U-shaped carrier 26?). The block 26 is additionally formed on the side thereof adjacentthe regulating wheel with pairs of cars or lugs 28 and 29 having intermediate the pair of lugs 28 pivotally mounted about bearing 30 an arm 31 which extends upward ly above the block 26 adjacent the work rest blade 24. Secured to the face 32 of the arm is a guide blade 33 secured in place by screws 34 and 35. As shown in Figure 4 when the mg secured thereto the plate 33 the work rest mechanism is utilized for performing what is known as the through-feed grinding operation. As was noted above, this method comprises passing the work piece through the grinding throat which work passes, un der gravity or otherwise, down a feed chute 36 on to the work rest blade 24. This blade 24 has an inclined active surface 37 inclining toward the regulating wheel 23 forming a trough with the guide blade 33. Successive work pieces push one another down the chute on to the blade 24 through the trough into the throat between the wheels. The work pieces after passing through the grinding throat leave the work rest blade at the rear ofthe machine being received in discharge chute 38 by which they are conveyed to a suitable receiving receptacle positioned adjacent the-machine. An arm 39 similar to the arm 31 is mounted between the lugs 29 and supports a guide blade 40 similar to the guide blade 33 for preventing the inadvertent displacement of the work pieces from the work rest blade until the same have been received by the discharge chute 38 as above noted.

hen the work supporting mechanism is to be used for grinding work pieces by the in-t'eed method the arms 31 and 39 are thrown away from the work rest blade 24 and a the guide blades 33 and 40 are removed. The means for adjusting the arms 31 and 39 about their pivots are duplicates and comprise a screw 41 having a pivot 42 which engages an inclined cam face 43 formed on cam plate 44 carried by the block 26. A lug 45 is formed on the arm beneath the pivot 30 and has secured thereto one end 46 of a spring 47 which has its other end secured to a pin 48 depending from the block 26. The spring 47 and pin 48 are positioned in a transverse slot or recess formed in the block 260. From the foregoing and by reference-to Figure 7 it will be noted that-by backing up screw 4] the spring 47 will rock the arm about its pivot and hold the point 42 of the screw in engagement with the cam face 43; the further the screw 41 is actuated the higher up the inclined face 43 and the point 42 engages and consequently the further the arm will be swung away from the work rest blade 24.

The work rest blade 24 is adapted to be vertically adjusted for different sizes of work pieces, the adjusting means comprising a cam bar 49 having cam faces 50 and 51 abutting one end studs 52 and 53 which on their other end engage the lower surface of the carrier 26b. The cam bar 49 is shifted by an adjusting screw 54 threadedly received in the end of the said cam bar 49. The screw 54 abuts a block 55 for limiting the inward movement of the screw and bar. The carrier 26b is then clamped in this position between fingers 56 and wall 56a of the block 26 arm 31 is in the position just described havby the said fingers 56 which are pivotally bearings 83 carried by the unit 15.

mounted at 57 to the block 26 on the side thereof opposite the arms 31 and 39 and the fingers are connected together by a transverse. member or strap 58. To actuate the fingersv -member 61. A screw 62 having threaded engagement with the block 260 being utilized for effecting the said shifting of the member 61.

The foregoing mechanism for vertically adjusting the blade 26 and clamping it in its adjusted positions is common to both types of Work rest mechanisms.

When the mechanism is to be used for infeed grinding the arms 31 and 39 are adj ustedto the position shown in Figure 7. as was noted above, and an automatic work ejecting mechanism is secured to the block 26 as shown in Figure 6. This automatic mechanism comprises a housing 63 securedby cap screws or the like 6 1 to the said block 26. A pivotally mounted lever 65 is carrier by the housing having the lower end 66 thereof in engagement with shiftable plunger 67 which bar extends "through the bearing pivots 30 of the arms 31 and 39. The other end 68 of the lever 65 is bifurcated and received between its arms a pin 69 carried by coupling 70. The coupling 70 being secured by clamp screw 71 to stop pin and ejector member 72 slidably carried by bearings 73 of the housing member 63. Adjustably mounted in the rear wall of the housing 63 is a limit 74 against which the coupling 70 abuts to limit its rearward movement and position stop pin 72. A spring 75 isprovided interiorly of the housin 63 havin one end secured at 76 to the lever 65 and the other end secured to a pin 77 carried by the housing wall 63. This spring 75 tends to actuate the lever 68 about its pivot in a clockwise direction for normally holding the stop pin 72 in a retracted opera tive position. I

To automatically actuate the lever 68 and eject a work piece from the grinding throat at the completion of a grinding operation the shift rod 0r plunger 67 is coupled up with the in-feed handle 22. This coupling comprises a pin 80 extending from the handle 22 received in a lost motion slot formed in slide bar 82. The slide bar being' aided by The other end of the bar 82 isprovided with a tooth or lug 84 coupling with a ratchet 85 secured to one end of rock shaft 86.- The inner end of the rock shaft 86 carries pinion 87 having the teeth thereof in mesh with the teeth of actuator 88 axially shiftable through bearings carried by housing 89 secured to the lower slide 15. The actuator 88 is in axial alignment with the plunger 67 and has its head 90 in engagement therewith.

As was noted above the handle 22 is actuated through substantially 90 degrees from the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2 toward the front of the machine for shifting the regulating wheel unit toward the grinding wheel to feed the work piece into the said grinding wheel while to retract the wheel the lever is returned to the position shown in Figure 2 whereupon it is actuated slightly beyond this position. ment of the handle the pin '80 engages the shoulder 91 formed by the slot 81 for shifting slide bar 82 through the bearings 83 and rock ing the shaft 86. This rocking movement of the shaft 86 actuates the plunger 88 to correspondingly shift plunger 67 actuating the lever 65 about its pivot in a counter clockwise direction to outwardly shift the pin 72 and eject the work piece from the grinding throat. This movement of the bar 67 compresses a spring 92 carried thereby and abutting on opposite'ends with the ear or lug 29 of the block 26 and with a collar 93 pinned or otherwise secured to said bar 67. Upon release of the handle 22 this spring 92 expands to return the parts to their normal position returning the handle 22 to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the plunger 67 to the position shown in Figures 3 and 6. At the same time the spring 75 returns the stop and ejector pin to the position shown in Figure 6. V

From the foregoing it will be understood that awork supporting mechanism has been provided for use with a centerless grinder while performing either or both a throughfeed or an iii-feed grinding operation. It being only necessary to adjust the arms 31 and 39 and add the housing 89 containing actuator 88 and the automatic ejector mechanism 63 to convert the work rest mechanism from a through-feed support to an iii-feed support or vice versa.

What is claimed is:

1. In a centcrless grinder the combination with a bed, a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels carried thereby forming a grinding throat therebet-ween, of a work supporting mechani m positioned beneath the grindingthroat and usable during the performance of an in-feed grinding and a through-feed grinding operation and ,comprisirga supporting bracket. a work rest blad carried by the bracket for supporting a we piece for peripheral rotation, arms pivota y carried by the bracket having a position adjacent the blade and a position re mote from the blade, guide members removably carried by the arms, a shiftable plunger supported by the bracket, and a detachable ejector mechanism carried by the bracket coing a work piece from the blade.

During this last move- .operating with the shiftable plunger for ejcct- 2. In a centerless grinder the combination of a bed, a pair of opposed grinding and regu lating wheels carried by the bed forming a grinding throat therebetween, a work rest mechanism beneath the grinding throat and usable for the performance of an iii-feed and a through-feed grinding operation and comprising a supporting bracket, a work rest blade carried by the bracket having an inclined active surface inclining toward the face of the regulating wheel to form a worktrough, means carried by the bracket for guiding a work piece to the trough, and means carried by the bracket for limiting the movement of the work piece through the trough and for automatically ejecting same ;hcrefrom.

3. In a device of the class described the combination of a bed, a work supporting mechanism carried thereby comprising a bracket, a work rest blade having an inclined active surface supported by the bracket, a grinding wheel rotatably carried by the bed on one side of the blade operable at a high grinding rate of speed with its active face travelling downwardly as respects the work rest blade, a rotatable regulating wheel carried by the bed on the other side of the blade operable at a relatively slow work. controlling rate of speed with its active face travelling upwardly as respects the said work rest blade, the active surface of the blade inclining toward the face of the regulating wheel to form a trough, means for actuating one of the wheels toward and from the other, means carried by the bracket for guiding work pieces to the trough, means removably secured to the bracket comprising a stop and ejector pin for positioning the work pieces in the trough, and means coupled with the means for actuating one of the wheels for actuating the ejector pin to eject a work piece from the grinding throat.

4. In a centerless grinder the combination of a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels forming a grinding throat thercbetween, a work supporting mechanism in the grinding throat for supporting a work piece during the performance of a through-feed and an in-feed grinding operation, means for locking the wheels with their active faces definitely spaced from one another, means associated with the work support mechanism for guiding a work piece to'the grinding throat, additional means for guiding the work pieces from the grinding throat after they pass therefrom, means for rendering the last two mentioned means inoperative, means for actuating one of the wheels longitudinally of the bed toward and from the other wheel.. means for positioning and ejecting a work piece relative to the grinding throat operable with the means for actuating the said one wheel toward and from the other, and means for adjusting the work rest blade vertically relative to the grinding throat.

5. In a centerless grinder the combination of a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels forming a grinding throat therebetween, a work supporting mechanism in the grinding throat for supporting a work piece during the performance of a through-feed and an in-feed grinding operation, means for locking the wheels with their active faces definitely spaced from one another, means associated with the work support mechanism for guiding a work pieceto the grinding throat, additional means for guiding the work pieces from the grinding throat after they pass therethrough, means for rendering the last two mentioned means inoperative, means for actuating one of the wheels longitudinally of the bed toward and from the other wheel, means for positioning and ejecting a work piece relative to the grinding throat operable with the means for a tuating the said one wheel toward and from the other, means for adjusting the work rest blade vertically relative to the grinding throat and means for clamping the work rest blade in its various adjusted positions.

(5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a bed, a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels carried thereby and forming a grinding throat therebetwecn, a work supporting mechanism within the grinding throat comprising a bracket, a work rest blade carriedthereby for pcripherally supporting a work piece during rotation, means on the bracket for guiding a work piece to the grinding throat, a shiftable plunger carried by the bracket, a hous ing detachably secured to the bracket, a pivotally mounted lever carried by the housing having-one end in abutment with the plunger, means operable by the other end of the lever for positioning and ejecting a work piece relative to the grinding throat, and means for actuating the plunger.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a bed, a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels carried thereby and forming a grinding throat therebetween, a work supporting mechanism within the grinding throat comprising a bracket, a work rest blade carried thereby for peripherally supporting a work piece during rotation, means on the bracket for guiding a work piece to the grinding throat, a shiftable plunger carried by the bracket, a housing dctachably secured to the bracket, a pivotally mounted lever carried by the housing having one end in abutment with one end of plunger, means operable by the other end of the lever for positioning and ejecting a work piece relative to the grinding throat, an actuator abutting the plunger on its other end for positively shifting the plunger in one direction and means for impositively shifting the plunger in the other direction.

8. In a device of the class described the combination of a bed, a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels carried thereby and forming a grinding throat therebetween, a work supporting mechanism within the throat. comprising a Work rest blade peripherally supporting a Work Piece during grinding, a bracket for the blade, a housing detachably secured to the bracket, a pivotally mounted lever carried by the housing, a positioning and ejecting member slidably sup ported by the housing, a coupling between the member and the lever, a shiftable plunger carried by the bracket abutting the lever for actuating same about its pivot to shift the positioning and ejecting member and eject a work piece from the grinding throat, and means for returning the lever and member to their normal positions.

9. In a device of the class described the combination of abed, a pair of opposed grind-' ing and regulating wheels carried therebyand forming a grinding throat therebetween, a work supporting mechanism within the throat comprising a Work rest blade peripherally supporting a work piece during grinding, a bracket for the blade, a housing detachably secured to the bracket, a pivotally mounted lever carried by the housing, a positioning and ejecting member slidably supported by the housing, a coupling between t e member and the lever, a shiftable plunger carried by the bracket abutting the lever for actuating same about its pivot to shift the positioning and ejecting member and eject a work piece from the grinding throat, means for returning the lever and member to their normal positions, and an adjustable stop carried by the housingto be engaged by the coupling to limit the movement of the positioning and ejecting member in one direction.

10. In a device of the class described the combination of a bed, a'pair of opposed grinding and regulating Wheels carried thereby and forming a grinding throat therebetween, a work supporting mechanism within the throat comprising a work rest blade peripherally supporting a Work piece during grinding, a bracket for the blade, a housing detachably secured to the bracket, a pivotally mounted lever carried by the housing, a positioning and ejecting member slidably supthe movement of the positioning and ejecting member under the influence of the last mentioned means.

11. In a device of the class described the combination of a bed, a pair of opposed grinding and regulating wheels carried thereby and forming a grinding throat therebetween, a work supporting mechanism within the throat comprising a work rest blade peripherally supporting a work piece during grinding, a bracket for the blade, a housing detachably secured to the bracket, a pivotally mounted lever carried by the housing, a positioning and ejecting member slidably supported by the housing, a coupling between the member and the lever, a shiftable plunger carried by the bracket abutting thelever for actuating same about its pivot, means including an actuator abutting the plunger on one end thereof for positively shifting the plunger in one direction to positively shift the positioning and ejecting member in the opposite direction to eject a work piece from the grinding throat, impositive means for shifting the plunger in theother direction, means for returning the lever and member to their normal positions, and an adjustable stop carried by the housing to be engaged by the coupling to limit the movement of the positioning and ejecting member under the influence of the last mentioned means.

12. A work supporting mechanism for use with a 'centerless grinder comprising a bracket, a work rest blade supported thereby, means carried by the bracket for guiding work pieces along the blade, a detachable housing secured to the bracket, means slidably carried by the housing for positioning and ejecting a work piece relative to the blade, a shiftable plunger carried by the bracket, a pivotally mounted lever carried by the housing operatively connected with the positioning and ejecting means and having one end abutting the shiftable plunger,'and means abutting the other end of the plunger for actuating same. In testimony whereof I affix my si ature.

CECIL W. HOP INS.

ported by the housing, a coupling between the member and the lever, a shiftable plunger carried by the bracket abutting the lever for actuating same about its pivot, means for positively shifting the plunger in one diree tion to positively shift the positioning and ejecting member in the opposite direction to eject a work piece from the grinding throat,

impositive means for shifting the plunger in the other direction, means for returning the lever and member to their normal positions, and an adjustable stop carried by the housing to' be engaged by the coupling to'limit 

